SI 2026/1159 - The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Birmingham Christmas Market) Regulations 2026

S T A T U T O R Y I N S T R U M E N T S 2026 No. 1159 CIVIL AVIATION The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Birmingham Christmas Market) Regulations 2026 Made - - - - 2nd November 2026 Coming into force - - 6th November 2026 The Secretary of State has decided that it is necessary in the public interest to restrict the flying of unmanned aircraft in the area specified in regulation 3(1) by reason of the intending gathering of a large number of persons.

The Secretary of State makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016(a).

Citation and commencement

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Birmingham Christmas Market) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 6th November 2026.

Interpretation

2. The times referred to in regulation 3(2) are Co-ordinated Universal Time(b).

Restricted airspace

3.—(1) Subject to paragraph (3), during the periods specified in paragraph (2) no unmanned aircraft is to fly below 1,500 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by—

(a) 522852N 0015455W,

(b) 522856N 0015446W,

(c) 522856N 0015438W,

(d) 522854N 0015433W,

(e) 522852N 0015423W,

(f) 522851N 0015420W,

(g) 522854N 0015416W,

(h) 522905N 0015402W,

(i) 522907N 0015354W,

(j) 522902N 0015348W,

(a) S.I. 2016/765, amended by S.I. 2024/990; there are other amending instruments but none is relevant.

(b) Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) is the same as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).(k) 522900N 0015345W,

(l) 522858N 0015345W,

(m) 522857N 0015342W,

(n) 522855N 0015338W,

(o) 522853N 0015327W,

(p) 522845N 0015325W,

(q) 522843N 0015321W,

(r) 522837N 0015326W,

(s) 522834N 0015327W,

(t) 522834N 0015326W,

(u) 522833N 0015326W,

(v) 522833N 0015327W,

(w) 522834N 0015330W,

(x) 522835N 0015333W,

(y) 522832N 0015338W,

(z) 522831N 0015343W,

(aa) 522831N 0015344W,

(bb) 522835N 0015348W,

(cc) 522834N 0015350W,

(dd) 522830N 0015401W,

(ee) 522843N 0015419W,

(ff) 522845N 0015423W,

(gg) 522843N 0015433W,

(hh) 522848N 0015437W,

(ii) 522847N 0015443W,

(jj) 522847N 0015446W, and

(kk) 522852N 0015455W.

(2) The periods referred to in paragraph (1) begin with 1400 hours and end with 2300 hours on each of the—

(a) 6th November 2026 and 7th November 2026,

(b) 13th November 2026 and 14th November 2026,

(c) 20th November 2026 and 21st November 2026,

(d) 27th November 2026 and 28th November 2026,

(e) 4th December 2026 and 5th December 2026,

(f) 11th December 2026 and 12th December 2026, and

(g) 18th December 2026 and 19th December 2026.

(3) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any unmanned aircraft flying in accordance with the permission of the West Midlands Police Counter-UAS Team.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport Joe Thompson Senior Executive Officer 2nd November 2026 Department for Transport 2EXPLANATORY NOTE (This note is not part of the Regulations) These Regulations impose restrictions on the flying of unmanned aircraft in the vicinity of Birmingham, where the gathering of a large number of persons is due to take place for the annual Christmas Markets. The Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport agree that it is necessary and in the public interest to restrict the flying of unmanned aircraft for reasons of public safety and security.

The times mentioned in regulation 3(2) are Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) which is the same as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

In relation to the permission mentioned in regulation 3(3), the West Midlands Police Counter- UAS Team may be contacted as notified.

Full details of this Statutory Instrument will be promulgated by Briefing Sheet and Notice to Aviation (NOTAM).

The point of contact in the Civil Aviation Authority is Mr Thomas Shainberg, Airspace Regulator, Safety and Airspace Regulation Group, on telephone number 03301 382515.

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